tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83034371886521203372014-10-04T19:55:52.546-07:00Bob's MongologueMongolia has no idea what it has gotten into.rcfiglockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775831762689981857noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303437188652120337.post-4762846226241841012011-06-18T02:24:00.000-07:002011-06-18T02:24:37.332-07:00Pay-It-Forward Sheep Purchase Day 1By Bob Figlock & Danny Wolf<br />
Published: Tuesday, May 24, 2011<br />
<br />
After weeks of planning and fundraising, we finally arrived at Division 5 on Saturday morning to discuss the arrangements that the recipient families had made for purchasing and transporting their sheep. Our cohort consisted of Bob, Danny, Bavaasan the translator, Enkhbayar the veteran of such undertakings, and John and Joel for support. Most of the families were able to show up, explain their plans, and make the initial contractual agreements. Five families had already selected a seller and had their documentation in order, so we made the necessary travel arrangements, produced a hand-drawn map of our contorted route, and agreed to set out early the next day.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://division5.org/media/794/porragon_497x290.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="290" width="497" src="http://division5.org/media/794/porragon_497x290.jpg" /></a></div><br />
We left Choibalsan in a porragon (a 1960's Russian Jeep) Sunday morning. The wind was picking up and dying down spasmodically, and rain, snow, and hail were taking turns at falling. We barreled along a path that at times consisted of a pair of dirt wheel-tracks pressed into the grassland, and at times was merely the grassland itself. We were trying to get 40km southeast to the dwelling of a herder who would be selling us 60 sheep from his flock of more than a thousand. As it can be extremely difficult to find nomadic herders in the countryside, our driver had to stop at every home we passed and ask where the family was. Conversations usually progressed along the lines of:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://division5.org/media/804/dsc00891.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="http://division5.org/media/804/dsc00891.jpg" /></a></div> Driver: Do you know Boldbaatar?<br />
Woman: Which Boldbaatar?<br />
<i> Three children and a man have walked out into the rain to open the porragon door, stick their heads in, and gawk unblinkingly at probably the first foreigners they've ever seen for 30 seconds straight.</i><br />
Driver: The one with the sheep.<br />
Woman: Oh, he lives that way.<br />
<i> She points to a spot on the blank horizon absolutely indistinguishable from any of the other 359 degrees that she could have chosen. She might well have been pointing back to Choibalsan for all we knew.</i><br />
Driver: OK.<br />
Woman: OK.<br />
<br />
During several of these stops, the ubiquitous guard dogs wanted to attack our porragon and would chase us unto the very end of their strength. One large dog in particular chose to chase us… from the front. Our driver was careful not to run it over but at times we were going over 30km/hr and the dog was zigzagging in front of us, barking over his shoulder all the while. He made it close to a mile before tiring out and letting us pass. We weren't even within sight of his home any more.<br />
<br />
Finally we made it to the ger we were looking for. Shortly after arrival we discovered that all of the sheep were still out to pasture and we therefore couldn't make the purchase. An ironclad rule of our project was that all sheep were to be selected by the recipient prior to payment so we could personally ear tag them. It would be a few hours before they could be corralled for selection. Luckily, the next seller was only 20km away, so we decided to move on so the sheep could be chosen in the meantime. On the way we saw a herd of camels so we stopped and took pictures. The camels were pretty curious about us, but tried to keep their distance, especially when Bavasaan tried to get close enough for us to take a picture of them together. This was the first time Danny had gotten this close to a camel outside of the zoo. The camels tired of us before we tired of them, so we continued on our way.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://division5.org/media/809/dscn4726_499x229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="229" width="499" src="http://division5.org/media/809/dscn4726_499x229.jpg" /></a></div><br />
When we arrived, the two families who were making the purchase showed up 5 minutes after us. The seller already had his livestock on hand and waiting for selection so some of us went out to choose and tag the sheep while others stayed in the ger, sipped milk tea and ate biscuits, and handled the particulars of signing the contract. One of our previous families had opted out at the last minute, causing us some alarm, but fortunately here we encountered an old man who had lost all but 50 of his clan's livestock and is supporting 7 children and over 30 grandchildren with these animals. He had been vetted and chosen to receive a ger from a World Vision project last year. After Enkhbayar conducted a long interview, we determined that his family was eligible to participate.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://division5.org/media/819/dsc00913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="338" width="450" src="http://division5.org/media/819/dsc00913.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://division5.org/media/814/dscn4737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="338" width="254" src="http://division5.org/media/814/dscn4737.jpg" /></a></div>The two families who were buying sheep that day had small, young herds and preferred to purchase 15 two-year-old mothers with 15 lambs instead of 20 three-year-olds as most recipients were doing. This way they could appropriately stagger their herd for sustainability. They agreed that they would pay back the same 20 3-year-olds that everyone else would, and Enkhbayar approved of this modification, so it was put into place. Once the sheep were tagged and the contracts were signed, we handed over the gargantuan stacks of tugriks (there is no checking system out here) and received a shower of gratitude for creating a project such as this. The two herder families were all smiles and couldn't thank us enough. They were clearly very excited to have these animals, and spoke enthusiastically of driving them home this week.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://division5.org/media/824/p5220152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="317" width="423" src="http://division5.org/media/824/p5220152.jpg" /></a></div><br />
We were seen off by another round of handshakes and waves to go back to the first seller with whom we had met. This time we arrived to find the animals had been selected and everything was ready for the contract signing and tagging. As with the previous purchase, several people went outside to chase the sheep around the corral while others filled out and signed the contracts. The sheep were docile once tackled, but were naturally averse to having an oversize hole-punch used on their ears. Since we caught the slowest ones first, and couldn't separate the sheep that had been tagged from those that hadn't, the last few animals proved very difficult register. In spite of being the only member of the flock without a bright orange earring, the very last sheep took five of us to bring down, at one point jumping clear over another (standing!) member of the flock.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://division5.org/media/829/dsc00934_499x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="499" src="http://division5.org/media/829/dsc00934_499x300.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Much like at the previous handovers, everyone was highly and demonstratively appreciative of what we were doing. Once the contracts were finalized and the payment was given, we headed back to Division 5 to get more signatures for the contracts, as everything is signed by each adult member of a recipient family in triplicate. We were greeted by some of the family members who had stayed home. They made us Mongolian soup containing dried sheep-jerky and milk tea as a gesture of gratitude. Although we were exhausted by day's end, we had had what we felt was a legitimate Mongolian adventure out in the countryside and were looking forward to purchasing the other half of the animals next weekend.<br />
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To view more photos, please visit our album <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/63330833@N04/sets/72157626684416503/show/with/5761296682">here</a>.<br />
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<br />
---<br />
<br />
So my site mate John Russell's dog keeps trying to kill itself. It was I who first found her a day or two before Christmas, collapsed in the middle of the biggest intersection in town during a fairly heavy snowfall, and it was just because her impending doom was so immediate that she is the one puppy to which I've given in and that I've taken home. Fortunately, John was willing to atone for my mistake and adopt her. Her name is Jagaa, short for Jargal noghoy (happy dog.)<br />
<br />
She has stopped to pee in front of several rapidly advancing cars. She leans right down into open manholes. She scales furniture to poison herself on large quantities of chocolate. While we were walking along the frozen river a month ago (which was holding our weight just fine,) she managed to fall through the ice behind us while we weren't looking and was dramatically rescued by a herdsman.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GxGqBR3vMeA/TcpHnDe_kPI/AAAAAAAAABI/ya050_GaSRs/s1600/John%2Band%2Bfrozen%2BJagaa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GxGqBR3vMeA/TcpHnDe_kPI/AAAAAAAAABI/ya050_GaSRs/s400/John%2Band%2Bfrozen%2BJagaa.jpg" /></a></div><em>John and frozen Jagaa</em><br />
<br />
So, we figured she shouldn't reproduce. The local Choibalsan veterinarian volunteered to <strong><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZAaHv_8xUk&feature=related">fix her for free</a></strong> so that her students could get some experience and exposure. The alternative would have been a slightly-less-than-200k tugruk (about $180, or 80% of our monthly salary) procedure at the real vet in UB. John decided to go with the free one.<br />
<br />
So last Tuesday we took her in to the Technical college and she got fixed. She was not completely anesthetized through this procedure (apparently they don't do it that way here) so four vet students were holding her down while the vet and her protege did the fixing. She was clearly displeased.<br />
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Friday night, the time of evening comes to change her bandages. This is the third night of doing this so no biggie. We're over at our other site mate Danny's house, and many of the soumers (village volunteers) are in visiting. We take the dog into the kitchen to swap gauze, when we notice that there's a lot of blood. We flip her over onto her back, and carefully undo the Ace bandage. The gauze is super bloody. And then her intestines pop out.<br />
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I'm not talking about a little bit here. At first there were several inches out. Jagaa is freaking out, as is, understandably, John. I rush into the other room to grab help from the other volunteers. I tell one of them to start iodizing water and grabbing gloves from the med kit. I try to call the Choibalsan vet three times on her number and several more times on the numbers of her co-workers. It's 9pm on a Friday, so nobody answers.<br />
<br />
I call the vet in UB and ask for advice on my phone while continuing to make calls on other people's phones. She says it's not life-threatening so long as we can wrap the whole mess up. We start flicking the iodized water across her guts to keep them wet and clean and avoid oxidation. By this time the dog is throwing up, and every time she does more intestine comes out. The protruding amount ends up being larger than two baseballs but smaller than a football. A soum volunteer, Jason, is in gloves and is holding the guts on the dog's stomach so that they don't touch the kitchen floor while John and Danny hold her top and bottom halves so that she stays on her back. She is... agitated. Jason soaks fresh gauze in iodized water and uses it to cover the pile.<br />
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I get Merrie, the volunteer from the technical college, to come over, and call the vet from <em>her</em> phone. It finally gets through, so I put Geoff, our best speaker by far, on the line and he explains the situation. She wants to wait until tomorrow morning. We explain that no, this needs to happen now. I concede to the demand that I come pick her up in a taxi. At 10 o'clock, Merrie, one of our Mongolian friends Munkhtuya, and I get a taxi and race to the vet's house, her protege's house, and the school to pick up medical supplies.<br />
<br />
We get back around 10:30pm. Her guts have been out for just under an hour and a half. We clean the kitchen table and start sterilizing stuff. Jagaa gets two shots of local anesthetic, which don't appear to do very much. Danny and John continue to hold her down while Jason continues to keep the intestines in place while the vet carefully threads them back inside. I'm running around cleaning and grabbing things like scissors and antibiotic ointment, and cleaning up dog puke from the floor. The dog doesn't seem too agonized during this part. The guts are back in by 11:15.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CHO2nQGFwS8/TcpHzllkUXI/AAAAAAAAABQ/yNKaj_jlFRA/s1600/Dog%2BOperation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="301" width="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CHO2nQGFwS8/TcpHzllkUXI/AAAAAAAAABQ/yNKaj_jlFRA/s400/Dog%2BOperation.jpg" /></a></div>Then came the bitch, as it were. The vet had poor eyesight, and could therefore not do the stitches. She hadn't been able to perform the original ones either. Causality? Perhaps. The vet student had to sew her stomach muscles back up, and then her skin. The dog was <em>thrashing</em>. By this point John, Danny, and Jason are using their actual bodyweight to hold her down. She is a 20 pound dog. Adrenaline's a hell of a thing. Things actually got worse near the end because there appear to be much more nerve endings in skin than in organs.<br />
<br />
She was all sewn back up at 12:15pm, three hours into the incident. We thanked the vets and paid for the drugs and their taxi ride back. We agreed that it was the worst night of several of our lives. John got Jagaa safely huddled into a corner where she passed out while giving all of us the evil eye.<br />
<br />
And then we <em>drank</em>.<br />
<br />
<br />
We were gun-shy of the ordeal happening all over again-same stitches and stitcher after all-and I was flying in for a conference on Sunday anyway, so I took the dog with me to get redone at the vet in UB. The logistics of flying with a dog in Mongolia were a big hassle, but less than I imagine a repeat would have been. The original procedure had only removed her ovaries, not her uterus, and due to the possibility of cancer that's apparently a big reason to get a female dog fixed in the first place. So John ended up dropping more than 200k on the UB procedure, plus another 100k for round-trip airfare that wouldn't have been necessary if he'd just driven in with her under less critical circumstances. Jagaa was none too pleased with her third surgery in a week, but is now pretty healthy aside from still being on antibiotics. The UB vet found the beginnings of a serious internal infection when they opened her up, so it turns out that the UB trip was definitely the right call.<br />
<br />
Lesson learned. Guys, pay for the expensive surgery from the beginning. It's worth it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-magiylzbwNI/Tc4icAOLZvI/AAAAAAAAABg/ACgxMzauAg0/s1600/Stone%2BCold%2BJagaa%2Bis%2Ba%2BStone%2BCold%2Bfox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-magiylzbwNI/Tc4icAOLZvI/AAAAAAAAABg/ACgxMzauAg0/s320/Stone%2BCold%2BJagaa%2Bis%2Ba%2BStone%2BCold%2Bfox.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<em>The post-op victory picture. Stone Cold Jagaa is a Stone Cold fox.</em>rcfiglockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775831762689981857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303437188652120337.post-71336226177611781012011-02-27T08:51:00.000-08:002011-02-27T08:51:39.529-08:00Happy 50th Birthday, Peace Corps!and congratulations to the 200,000 Americans who have served as Volunteers. I'd like to express my deep gratitude towards JFK, Sargent Shriver, Director Williams, and all of the other American and foreign leaders to whose efforts we owe our wonderful program's existence. To our amazing staff here in Ulan Bator, all of my fellow PC Mongolia Volunteers, and the host country nationals who make our experiences possible: from the bottom of my heart, thank you all for enabling the most challenging, inspiring, and rewarding experience I've ever had.<br />
<a href="http://multimedia.peacecorps.gov/multimedia/video//media/JFK_EO_ProRes.mov"><br />
Kennedy Signing Executive Order 10924, Establishing the United States Peace Corps</a>rcfiglockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775831762689981857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303437188652120337.post-48108130673645995112010-08-20T13:51:00.000-07:002010-08-20T13:51:18.186-07:00Ladies and Gentlemen...Introducing Mongolia's very first Elvis impersonator. This is my English teacher training counterpart, Nargie, impersonating Elvis on Darkhan public access television.<br />
<br />
<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/IqkOJeNB7bk?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/IqkOJeNB7bk?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>rcfiglockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775831762689981857noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303437188652120337.post-37597939472757044522010-07-14T19:08:00.000-07:002010-07-14T19:08:13.676-07:00New Updates!Hello everyone! The thick of Pre-Service Training is upon me, and I have had little to no time for eating, sleeping, or posting. What I do have is a massive backlog of pictures from last year. I apologize that I can’t write more context for these, but I hope that they will tide you over until I can return to musing in this space once again. <br />
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<i>[[editor's note]] The next 5 posts or so are all new updates, be sure to read them all!</i>rcfiglockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775831762689981857noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303437188652120337.post-84180690163129046322010-07-14T19:04:00.000-07:002010-07-14T19:05:04.728-07:00Chillin in Choibalsan, and other adventures<b>Visiting Counterparts’ Houses</b><br />
<br />
Here are pictures from Shine Jil (New Year’s Day) at my main counterpart, Tsetsegjargal’s, apartment and a lunch that we had at Geoff’s counterpart, Urgoo’s, house with his hilarious kids.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727103746/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="PB143312"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1361/4727103746_36d8483a65_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PB143312" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727103790/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="PB143309"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1160/4727103790_cd52acea64_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PB143309" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726458405/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="DSCN2213"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1003/4726458405_d1985a32ca_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN2213" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726458439/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="DSCN1640"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1129/4726458439_0b9a2de03c_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1640" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726458479/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="DSCN1639"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1225/4726458479_b40ca2c760_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1639" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726458527/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="DSCN1638"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1157/4726458527_590a2b4eb4_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1638" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726458559/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="DSCN1636"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1390/4726458559_49bb22ae99_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1636" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727104016/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="DSCN1634"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1108/4727104016_66e8b130a1_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1634" border="0" /></a><br />
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<b>Volleyball Tournament</b><br />
<br />
My school’s staff is amazing at volleyball and often wins tournaments. They let me play with them once. I’m pretty sure that I did not impress…<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726460261/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="DSCN2093"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1315/4726460261_36e395b0bd_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN2093" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726460303/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="DSCN2092"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1337/4726460303_afba920941_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN2092" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727105734/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="DSCN2077"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1202/4727105734_42d2e812e1_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN2077" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726460361/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="DSCN2076"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1189/4726460361_dc895b54ab_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN2076" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727105806/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="DSCN2065"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1074/4727105806_dfee218ccd_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN2065" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726460413/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="DSCN2063"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1078/4726460413_1fc0af7a2a_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN2063" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727105876/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="DSCN2062"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1427/4727105876_95f0a8db44_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN2062" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726460481/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="DSCN2058"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1383/4726460481_8d48a54253_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN2058" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727105946/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="DSCN2056"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1148/4727105946_0eb553f6a7_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN2056" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726460535/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="DSCN2055"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1410/4726460535_1c86ef56c7_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN2055" border="0" /></a><br />
<br />
<b>Chilling in Choibalsan</b><br />
<br />
is comprised of pictures that would not fit anywhere else, yet most definitely warranted inclusion in this space. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726461905/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="Bob and Trinh"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1015/4726461905_1b8a2324b9_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="Bob and Trinh" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726461945/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="DSCN1688"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1419/4726461945_80e0ec81b2_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1688" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727107348/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="DSCN1510"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1061/4727107348_ba64216f51_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1510" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726461999/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="DSCN1494"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1386/4726461999_f54e1cb217_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1494" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726462047/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="DSCN1394"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1237/4726462047_48242bb3e0_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1394" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726462081/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="DSCN1398"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1173/4726462081_73b2b38c90_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1398" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726462107/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="DSCN1392"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1319/4726462107_43395365af_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1392" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727107564/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="DSCN1691"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1025/4727107564_020fae24b5_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1691" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726462179/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="DSCN1850"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1224/4726462179_4bc1dae0bb_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1850" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727107624/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="DSCN1848"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1389/4727107624_2cf0e077ae_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1848" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727107676/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="DSCN1696"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1073/4727107676_dfec98b8f0_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1696" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726462287/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="DSCN1745"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1097/4726462287_f7124e6a55_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1745" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726462315/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="DSCN1743"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1033/4726462315_10c0b3b8a0_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1743" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727107804/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="PB180081"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1022/4727107804_176efc4a3e_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PB180081" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727107850/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="PB180085"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1376/4727107850_a03f7e9591_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PB180085" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727107900/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="PB180080"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1355/4727107900_938b6fe7c6_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PB180080" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726462515/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="PB180077"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1326/4726462515_69c1828789_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PB180077" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727107996/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="PB180074"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1246/4727107996_70975d384c_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PB180074" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727108060/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="PB113306"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1040/4727108060_a9168dab72_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PB113306" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727108102/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="PB120069"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1019/4727108102_bc7bb963bd_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PB120069" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726462681/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="PB113302"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1184/4726462681_aa92ae7579_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PB113302" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726462751/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="PB113298"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1388/4726462751_9f32a856de_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PB113298" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726462821/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="PB113294"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1370/4726462821_b47a59e1d2_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PB113294" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727108302/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="PA173226"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1219/4727108302_7e6be72799_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PA173226" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726462931/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="PA170027"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1417/4726462931_892c8411d3_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PA170027" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726462955/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="PA080516"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1436/4726462955_f6111bbbb7_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PA080516" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726463031/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="P1010081"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1155/4726463031_f7ca082619_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="P1010081" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726463081/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="P1010080"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1330/4726463081_4a37261bda_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="P1010080" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727108616/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="P1010079"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1430/4727108616_058236ec72_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="P1010079" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726463227/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="P1010076"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1316/4726463227_ec21978ac0_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="P1010076" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726463257/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="nice and clean"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1439/4726463257_610f78f847_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="nice and clean" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727108760/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="P1010074"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1141/4727108760_94b5223a1d_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="P1010074" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727108816/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="lindsay I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1385/4727108816_d337a836b5_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="lindsay I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726463429/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="PB180105"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1213/4726463429_2169061823_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PB180105" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726463493/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="PC063474"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1033/4726463493_2f53af7fce_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PC063474" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727108960/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="PC300228"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1340/4727108960_52e262a15c_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PC300228" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726463589/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="PC300235"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1258/4726463589_13bcb883c5_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PC300235" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727109038/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="PC300231"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1123/4727109038_9886c93eac_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PC300231" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726463647/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="PC253733"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1325/4726463647_3a7ed23e4d_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PC253733" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727109150/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="PC313921"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1415/4727109150_67a00298c0_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PC313921" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727109206/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="what about bob"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1397/4727109206_f17cf49e70_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="what about bob" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727109246/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="view from my apt"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1088/4727109246_8df225a6e7_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="view from my apt" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726463853/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="PC313915"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1204/4726463853_d34eb67fde_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PC313915" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726463901/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="no clue lindsay took the picture will ask her about it"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1263/4726463901_a672d01183_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="no clue lindsay took the picture will ask her about it" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727109390/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="bob and his funny faces"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1053/4727109390_7104efed5d_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="bob and his funny faces" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726463991/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="PB180098"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1077/4726463991_6dbce98baa_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PB180098" border="0" /></a><br />
<br />
and just in case you were wondering what goes on with other Aimags’ groups… <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727116154/in/set-72157624213792093/" title="22058_991869972585_12409627_53474526_7383542_n"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1358/4727116154_7617577ccd.jpg" alt="22058_991869972585_12409627_53474526_7383542_n" border="0" /></a>rcfiglockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775831762689981857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303437188652120337.post-73432470099484644522010-07-14T18:26:00.000-07:002010-07-14T18:26:37.307-07:00TeachingIncluded here are pictures from the Dyned lab that I resurrected (see earlier posts,) a somewhat impromptu “Materials Creation Seminar” that Geoff’s school put on, and assorted pictures from my “English for other subject teachers” class which was quite a lot of fun while it lasted. In case you’re wondering, the woman with the video camera is Geoff’s director, who insisted on taping and photographing us while we watch a carefully choreographed display lesson. I started taking pictures of her taking pictures, which led to an endless feedback loop that we both enjoyed thoroughly.<br />
<br />
<img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1232/4727102214_99b7e094ef.jpg"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726455333/in/set-72157624338467502/" title="PA303281"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1082/4726455333_1cbef06082_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PA303281" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727100914/in/set-72157624338467502/" title="P1084046"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1177/4727100914_2af16cfb9c_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="P1084046" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726455441/in/set-72157624338467502/" title="P1084037"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1034/4726455441_8835ca4c54_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="P1084037" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726455485/in/set-72157624338467502/" title="P1084031"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1254/4726455485_3967e018e5_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="P1084031" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726455553/in/set-72157624338467502/" title="P1083997"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1341/4726455553_33c72304d2_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="P1083997" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727101130/in/set-72157624338467502/" title="P1083979"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1084/4727101130_35e284ae28_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="P1083979" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726455657/in/set-72157624338467502/" title="P1073976"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1241/4726455657_10652cf7cc_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="P1073976" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726455689/in/set-72157624338467502/" title="DSCN2203"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1238/4726455689_9b9040c4b1_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN2203" border="0" /></a><a 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href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726456499/in/set-72157624338467502/" title="DSCN1702"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1071/4726456499_42eedd2645_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1702" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726456529/in/set-72157624338467502/" title="DSCN1699"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1374/4726456529_62b7b36c8c_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1699" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727102180/in/set-72157624338467502/" title="DSCN1701"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1059/4727102180_45c403f008_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1701" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727102214/in/set-72157624338467502/" title="DSCN1698"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1232/4727102214_99b7e094ef_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1698" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726456615/in/set-72157624338467502/" title="DSCN1697"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1179/4726456615_1e7be48a48_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1697" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727102268/in/set-72157624338467502/" title="DSCN1695"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1022/4727102268_a0c0d1547a_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1695" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727102306/in/set-72157624338467502/" title="DSCN1692"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1167/4727102306_de62d8bf41_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1692" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727102340/in/set-72157624338467502/" title="DSCN1693"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1426/4727102340_5c1c1e5875_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1693" border="0" /></a>rcfiglockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775831762689981857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303437188652120337.post-62290981937143387772010-07-14T18:19:00.000-07:002010-07-14T18:23:14.019-07:00Teachers’ Day PartyTeachers' day occurs the week before Tsaagan Sar (the lunar New Year.) My school rented out a nice Chinese restaurant and provided no small amount of merriment. Trinh showed up, and the ceremony turned into a dance party. He has often been known to have this effect.<br />
<br />
<img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1142/4727092534_c3b336db64.jpg"><br />
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<b>Teachers’ Day Performances</b><br />
<br />
What is a holiday without a series of hastily-prepared musical performances? I had the honor of leading the Foreign Language department in a round of “We are the World,” singing a duet version of a wonderful Mongolian song roughly translated as “Traveling Bird,” and whipping out Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in C-Sharp Minor. The sustain pedal broke about a measure after I started, leading to an electrician, the music teacher, and me awkwardly trying to fix it in front of the entire staff for almost ten minutes. I eventually gave up on that and just played the song without pedal. NICE.<br />
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href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727098236/in/set-72157624338447140/" title="DSCN2021"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1104/4727098236_e628f0a9ae_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN2021" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727098290/in/set-72157624338447140/" title="DSCN2003"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1328/4727098290_af3b9e9243_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN2003" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726452875/in/set-72157624338447140/" title="DSCN1998"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1056/4726452875_6439638b38_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1998" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727098348/in/set-72157624338447140/" title="DSCN1997"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1217/4727098348_81fb1b8c6f_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1997" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726452961/in/set-72157624338447140/" title="DSCN1988"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1137/4726452961_7328be74be_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1988" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727098422/in/set-72157624338447140/" title="DSCN1985"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1179/4727098422_8af91f9400_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1985" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727098460/in/set-72157624338447140/" title="DSCN1980"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1183/4727098460_39d50dba31_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1980" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727098500/in/set-72157624338447140/" title="DSCN1973"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1041/4727098500_4949c330b3_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1973" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726453107/in/set-72157624338447140/" title="DSCN1970"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1422/4726453107_d62a795bcf_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1970" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727098576/in/set-72157624338447140/" title="DSCN1969"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1154/4727098576_4108463264_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1969" border="0" /></a>rcfiglockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775831762689981857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303437188652120337.post-10154322855697556292010-07-14T18:09:00.000-07:002010-07-14T18:10:14.599-07:00My SchoolThese are random pictures, most of which were taken by my counterparts and coworkers of their various projects in and around the school building. Mind that this edifice was a food factory only three years ago. There is an awards ceremony included for good measure. These occur quite frequently but one is hardly distinguishable from another.<br />
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href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726440995/in/set-72157624338426242/" title="DSCN1603"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1108/4726440995_2ce7f0eb3b_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1603" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726441043/in/set-72157624338426242/" title="DSCN1599"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1366/4726441043_26bee9242f_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1599" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726441091/in/set-72157624338426242/" title="DSCN1596"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1181/4726441091_2d9de2c198_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1596" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727086482/in/set-72157624338426242/" title="DSCN1595"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1182/4727086482_aea148ac3d_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1595" border="0" /></a><a 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href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726441311/in/set-72157624338426242/" title="DSCN1555"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1170/4726441311_b84293cb03_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1555" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727086748/in/set-72157624338426242/" title="DSCN1553"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1250/4727086748_512996235e_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1553" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727086802/in/set-72157624338426242/" title="DSCN1545"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1227/4727086802_cab6104701_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1545" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727086834/in/set-72157624338426242/" title="DSCN1544"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1374/4727086834_e74c56c486_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1544" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727086874/in/set-72157624338426242/" title="DSCN1532"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1206/4727086874_5a9fe81cac_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1532" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726441505/in/set-72157624338426242/" title="DSCN1506"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1122/4726441505_0152ba0cd2_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1506" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726441547/in/set-72157624338426242/" title="DSCN1500"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1397/4726441547_cd9237d75f_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1500" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726441569/in/set-72157624338426242/" title="DSCN1480"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1117/4726441569_fffb720c77_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1480" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727087034/in/set-72157624338426242/" title="DSCN1468"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1184/4727087034_6bf435512a_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1468" border="0" /></a>rcfiglockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775831762689981857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303437188652120337.post-3040643188928190032010-07-14T17:59:00.000-07:002010-07-14T19:06:41.043-07:00BrewingJoel and I have been busily brewing beer in my apartment, turning a batch out about every other month. Some brews have turned out better than others, but they have all produced a lot of fun, a learning experience, and five gallons of beer. There should be much more of this to come around the end of the summer and throughout next year. I’ve also been trying my hand at cheese making (thanks to a wonderful dairy farm in somebody’s yard not half a kilometer from my building) and have an extra-sharp cheddar aging in my apartment right now. It should be ready by Thanksgiving. I’ll let you know how it ends up tasting. THEN YOU PEOPLE IN AMERICA CAN BE JEALOUS OF <b>MY</b> CHEESE!!! [Sob]<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727081934/in/set-72157624213733185/" title="DSCN1823"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1129/4727081934_28bbd6ee31_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1823" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726436587/in/set-72157624213733185/" title="DSCN1824"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1254/4726436587_4b8fae64bd_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1824" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726436621/in/set-72157624213733185/" title="DSCN1825"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1094/4726436621_569e6b8dd3_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1825" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726436647/in/set-72157624213733185/" title="DSCN1829"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1056/4726436647_bfecf956a0_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1829" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727082052/in/set-72157624213733185/" title="DSCN1830"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1053/4727082052_9c2dc1aac9_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1830" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727082098/in/set-72157624213733185/" title="DSCN1831"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1252/4727082098_7b8402b212_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1831" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727082126/in/set-72157624213733185/" title="DSCN1834"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1366/4727082126_cd904b9c18_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1834" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726436803/in/set-72157624213733185/" title="DSCN1835"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1169/4726436803_465d0c4fbd_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1835" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726436829/in/set-72157624213733185/" title="DSCN1836"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1193/4726436829_899dfe94e1_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1836" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726436857/in/set-72157624213733185/" title="DSCN1837"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1406/4726436857_be588b9214_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1837" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726436881/in/set-72157624213733185/" title="DSCN1838"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1088/4726436881_83930f1f35_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1838" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727082308/in/set-72157624213733185/" title="DSCN1841"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1228/4727082308_836c10d352_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1841" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4726436931/in/set-72157624213733185/" title="DSCN1843"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1080/4726436931_cd8325bfba_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1843" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727082364/in/set-72157624213733185/" title="DSCN1844"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1417/4727082364_889ab1e7c6_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1844" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4727082396/in/set-72157624213733185/" title="DSCN1845"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1389/4727082396_834921ef04_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1845" border="0" /></a>rcfiglockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775831762689981857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303437188652120337.post-25249771123402316002010-04-08T17:27:00.001-07:002010-04-08T17:31:23.059-07:00Michael Jackson in MongoliaMy friend and future co-trainer Alison Boland filmed and edited this during our Pre-Service training. It's pretty fantastic.<br />
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<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pllviBEoF94&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pllviBEoF94&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>rcfiglockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775831762689981857noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303437188652120337.post-24902674605234700022010-03-18T23:56:00.001-07:002010-03-21T16:33:38.948-07:00The Nine NinesThe Nine Nines (the nine periods of nine days that are how Mongolians record the passing of Winter) are here delineated. The first Nine begins on December 22nd. We're on the eighth one now!<br />
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<b>“Есөн ес”<br />
“The Nine Nines” </b><br />
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<i>Нэг “ес”- д яах вэ?</i> — What will happen during the first nine?<br />
<i>Нэрмэл архи хөлдөнө.</i> — Homemade vodka will freeze.<br />
<i>Хоёр “ес”- д яах вэ?</i> — What will happen during the second nine?<br />
<i>Хорз архи хөлдөнө.</i> — High content vodka will freeze.<br />
<i>Гурав “ес”- д яах вэ?</i> — What will happen during the third nine?<br />
<i>Гунан үхрийн эвэр хөлдөнө.</i> — A three year old cow’s horn will freeze.<br />
<i>Дөрөв “ес”- д яах вэ?</i> — What will happen during the fourth nine?<br />
<i>Дөнөн үхрийн эвэр хуга хөлдөнө.</i> — A four year old cow’s horn will freeze and snap.<br />
<i>Таван “ес”- д яах вэ?</i> — What will happen during the fifth nine?<br />
<i>Тавьсан будаа хөлдөхгүй.</i> — Rice left to set will not freeze. <br />
<i>Зургаан “ес”- д яах вэ?</i> — What will happen during the sixth nine?<br />
<i>Зурайсан зам гарна.</i> — The surface of the road will come out.<br />
<i>Долоон “ес”- д яах вэ?</i> — What will happen during the seventh nine? <br />
<i>Довын толгой борлоно.</i> — The small hills top will become brown.<br />
<i>Найман “ес”- д яах вэ?</i> — What will happen during the eight nine? <br />
<i>Нал шал болно.</i> — The ground will become moist and damp.<br />
<i>Есөн “ес”- д яах вэ?</i> — What will happend during the ninth nine?<br />
<i>Ерийн дулаан болно.</i> — The days will become warm again.rcfiglockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775831762689981857noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303437188652120337.post-10623896391249236642010-03-18T23:40:00.000-07:002010-03-20T17:24:38.890-07:00BroomballOur most recent trip into UB for Swine Flu vaccinations had the good fortune of coinciding with an American Embassy Broomball tournament. Broomball, for the uninitiated, consists of trying to play hockey with brooms in place of sticks, a soccer ball in lieu of a puck, and crucially, plain shoes instead of skates. Hilarity habitually ensues. <a href="http://drop.io/g1cn28y/asset/2010-01-20-nomad-news-pdf" title="2010-01-20-nomad-news-pdf">This embassy newsletter</a> gives the play-by-play as well as I could. My sitemate Trinh was the Peace Corps Volunteer who exclaimed “This is for the housewives!”<br />
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src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2681/4422507315_c59b782acc_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1765" class="pc_img" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4422507783/in/set-72157623600664332/" title="DSCN1766" class="image_link"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4005/4422507783_43517e8e55_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1766" class="pc_img" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4423273092/in/set-72157623600664332/" title="DSCN1767" class="image_link"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4018/4423273092_eb4c714f8d_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1767" class="pc_img" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4422508103/in/set-72157623600664332/" title="DSCN1768" class="image_link"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4018/4422508103_07eac6c213_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1768" class="pc_img" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4423273406/in/set-72157623600664332/" title="DSCN1771" class="image_link"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2742/4423273406_a204765cf4_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1771" class="pc_img" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4422508533/in/set-72157623600664332/" title="DSCN1819" class="image_link"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4034/4422508533_9a87f492bb_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1819" class="pc_img" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4422511005/in/set-72157623600664332/" title="DSCN1818" class="image_link"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4066/4422511005_b07b53fcfb_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1818" class="pc_img" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4423276960/in/set-72157623600664332/" title="DSCN1817" class="image_link"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4067/4423276960_33465f14a8_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1817" class="pc_img" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4423290424/in/set-72157623600664332/" title="DSCN1815" class="image_link"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2799/4423290424_facae91d9d_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1815" class="pc_img" border="0" /></a>rcfiglockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775831762689981857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303437188652120337.post-13834698051546692922010-03-18T23:35:00.000-07:002010-03-20T17:25:06.147-07:00Thanksgiving and IST<b>Thanksgiving: </b><br />
Gorge on foreign food,<br />
drink a tasty beer,<br />
and socialize with volunteers<br />
you see about twice a year.<br />
<br />
<b>IST:</b> <br />
Repeat the above with Mongolian counterparts. <br />
The teaching and project planning sessions were also excellent.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4445119284/in/set-72157623524668347/" title="DSCN1515" class="image_link"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4053/4445119284_e7d17a2121_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1515" class="pc_img" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4444348285/in/set-72157623524668347/" title="DSCN1522" class="image_link"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4025/4444348285_af29f2ca18_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1522" class="pc_img" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4445119228/in/set-72157623524668347/" title="DSCN1520" class="image_link"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2690/4445119228_e620bff2e4_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1520" class="pc_img" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4445119188/in/set-72157623524668347/" title="Lindsey me and Levi" class="image_link"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2701/4445119188_d26c450e91_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="Lindsey me and Levi" class="pc_img" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4444348171/in/set-72157623524668347/" title="PB253331" class="image_link"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2754/4444348171_18d0768c74_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PB253331" class="pc_img" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4445119064/in/set-72157623524668347/" title="PB263358" class="image_link"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2782/4445119064_954811c8a3_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PB263358" class="pc_img" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4445119010/in/set-72157623524668347/" title="PB263367" class="image_link"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2745/4445119010_6ca6d4092a_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PB263367" class="pc_img" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4445118962/in/set-72157623524668347/" title="PB263370" class="image_link"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4048/4445118962_3eac701f32_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PB263370" class="pc_img" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4444347961/in/set-72157623524668347/" title="PB263379" class="image_link"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4029/4444347961_f2915b768a_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PB263379" class="pc_img" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4445118866/in/set-72157623524668347/" title="PB263377" class="image_link"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4051/4445118866_14e97c799d_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PB263377" class="pc_img" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4445118820/in/set-72157623524668347/" title="PB263386" class="image_link"><img 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href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4445118262/in/set-72157623524668347/" title="PC163546" class="image_link"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4014/4445118262_6902216663_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PC163546" class="pc_img" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4444347315/in/set-72157623524668347/" title="PC183617" class="image_link"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4041/4444347315_bb1d5f473b_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PC183617" class="pc_img" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4444347273/in/set-72157623524668347/" title="PC183641" class="image_link"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4005/4444347273_b0c9528db5_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PC183641" class="pc_img" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4444347203/in/set-72157623524668347/" title="PC183652" class="image_link"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2681/4444347203_99c19bbcdf_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PC183652" class="pc_img" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4445118048/in/set-72157623524668347/" title="PC213661" class="image_link"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2745/4445118048_8ae92c20b2_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PC213661" class="pc_img" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4445117996/in/set-72157623524668347/" title="PC213663" class="image_link"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2679/4445117996_afb6fe5d7a_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PC213663" class="pc_img" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4445117926/in/set-72157623524668347/" title="PC213669" class="image_link"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2781/4445117926_0fbdce854a_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PC213669" class="pc_img" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4445117872/in/set-72157623524668347/" title="wasn't me" class="image_link"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2697/4445117872_914511a36b_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="wasn't me" class="pc_img" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4445117802/in/set-72157623524668347/" title="Peace Corps friendly version of the communal vodka bottle" class="image_link"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4010/4445117802_4ab605e51a_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="Peace Corps friendly version of the communal vodka bottle" class="pc_img" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4444346825/in/set-72157623524668347/" title="WHY" class="image_link"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2714/4444346825_2f30197242_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="WHY" class="pc_img" border="0" /></a>rcfiglockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775831762689981857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303437188652120337.post-77322855789014584342010-03-18T23:16:00.000-07:002010-03-20T17:25:35.176-07:00Travel.It is occasionally our dubious pleasure to spend between 12 and 20 hours packed into a porragon, a Soviet-era Russian microbus with a beefed-up suspension, on spectacularly unpaved and sometimes utterly illusory “roads.” Oftentimes there are neither markers nor hints whatsoever as to which parts of the steppe/regolith do and do not constitute a viable part of the thoroughfare. It is while we are traversing these uncharted wastes (and evidently concourses) that I spend minutes and hours wondering whether my driver is engaged in some sort of solar-relative form of navigation, or whether each porragon leaves a scent trail to be followed by the next, like some sort of peon-ant posting a linear memorandum of “there’s food this way!” for the benefit of his fellow proletarian.<br />
<br />
A porragon has either eleven or twelve actual seats in it. These seats are quite small, and nine of them are usually arrayed on three benches in the back. In spite of this, I have never undertaken the trek as part of a fellowship containing fewer than twelve members, and, just in case we should be waylaid by wandering bands of highwaymen I suppose, our numbers have at times ranged up to sixteen. I am not counting children (pupae) or, as they are termed after their metamorphosis from the larval stage, “lap banshees.” Experience has shown me that either incarnation is capable of The Exorcist-themed projectile excretions.<br />
<br />
One might say that the road to Ulan Bator is fraught with peril. Reasons for 2-4 hours stops in the past have included snowstorms, our vehicle breaking down, a vehicle in our caravan breaking down, a vehicle NOT in our caravan breaking down, etc. ad nauseam. I admire the fact that Mongolians are a very communal society, in which spending three hours by the side of a road in temperatures below negative thirty Fahrenheit is something that is “simply done” for the benefit of those in the other vehicle who would otherwise freeze to death. This does not, however, excuse a three-hour break in a city of fifteen thousand while the passengers on our two vehicles get wasted on the vodka that Russians wouldn’t drink.<br />
<br />
An “autos,” an actual bus that takes the same route, is exactly the same except twice as big and with twice as many people.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4444337383/in/set-72157623524612257/" title="P8200413" class="image_link"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4029/4444337383_6bb5af5d57_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="P8200413" class="pc_img" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4444337337/in/set-72157623524612257/" title="P8200414" class="image_link"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2715/4444337337_660421a348_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="P8200414" class="pc_img" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4445108434/in/set-72157623524612257/" title="P8200416" class="image_link"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4062/4445108434_30f864cb49_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="P8200416" class="pc_img" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4444337239/in/set-72157623524612257/" title="P8200431" class="image_link"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2678/4444337239_7d8ac326f9_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="P8200431" class="pc_img" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4445108362/in/set-72157623524612257/" title="P8200439" class="image_link"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2720/4445108362_ff302d2a4d_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="P8200439" class="pc_img" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4444337169/in/set-72157623524612257/" title="P8200443" class="image_link"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4060/4444337169_7dbe3a019f_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="P8200443" class="pc_img" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4444337123/in/set-72157623524612257/" title="P8200456" class="image_link"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2682/4444337123_3b6a7134a9_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="P8200456" class="pc_img" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4444337065/in/set-72157623524612257/" title="P8200457" class="image_link"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2691/4444337065_36590b3fb3_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="P8200457" class="pc_img" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4445108182/in/set-72157623524612257/" title="P8200462" class="image_link"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4030/4445108182_0a6ff0577e_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="P8200462" class="pc_img" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4444336991/in/set-72157623524612257/" title="P8200465" class="image_link"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2694/4444336991_f166c513ff_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="P8200465" class="pc_img" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4445108106/in/set-72157623524612257/" title="P8200472" class="image_link"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4062/4445108106_3f621e168d_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="P8200472" class="pc_img" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4444336913/in/set-72157623524612257/" title="PB190113" class="image_link"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2704/4444336913_8b6bac3900_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PB190113" class="pc_img" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4445108020/in/set-72157623524612257/" title="PB190115" class="image_link"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4025/4445108020_37910e4851_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PB190115" class="pc_img" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4445107984/in/set-72157623524612257/" title="PB190114" class="image_link"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4033/4445107984_c39f01674e_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PB190114" class="pc_img" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4445107932/in/set-72157623524612257/" title="PC223671" class="image_link"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2743/4445107932_0843f13574_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="PC223671" class="pc_img" border="0" /></a>rcfiglockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775831762689981857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303437188652120337.post-1668419992586499322010-03-10T11:02:00.000-08:002010-03-20T17:25:56.864-07:00World Aids Day, aka. condomucopiaHello, all. I apologize for my protracted paucity in posting pictures. When I imagined the Peace Corps lifestyle a year ago, visions of reading lengthy tomes while relaxing in a hammock suspended between trees danced through my head. The reality of service in Mongolia is actually frenetically paced. I’m sure that my friends serving in tiny villages across the country would leap to protest this claim, had their months-long inertia induced by steadfastly surviving glacial ger-life not slowed their movement to a lethargic yet plucky torpor. In fact, we are not only in the grips of an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zud">abnormally frigid Mongolian winter</a>, but perhaps <a href="http://drop.io/0yoyts1/asset/dzudreport-pdf" title="dzudreport-pdf">the coldest and most brutal brumality to rock this steppe in 30 years.</a><br />
<br />
The upside of living in a busy Aimag Center is that there is always work to be done, and sometimes internet connectivity with which to do it. I hope that in the near future I will be better at time-managing the former and utilizing the latter (when present) to get my truly massive backlog of pictures and stories posted here. By the way, Happy <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsagaan_Sar">Tsagaan Sar</a>! (Lunar New Year) <br />
<br />
<h3>World AIDS Day</h3>December 1st marks World AIDS day, an occasion on which we can all come together in the timeless and joyous pursuit of plaguing, pillorying, and perhaps protecting those who are less comfortable around condom demonstrations than ourselves. This year, that unenviable role fell to the general student populations of Choibalsan’s two colleges. We also worked to spread awareness of sexually transmitted infections, educate on their prevention, and distribute countless quantities of those enigmatic and enticing little prophylactics known as “Lifestyles-Ultra Lubricated.” Tia Farrell, a superbly knowledgeable PC volunteer at the Red Cross in UB, generously provided us with 750 such safety sleeves, which we put to very good use. After the customary early-morning “big old bag o’ condoms” photo shoot:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4422293989/in/set-72157623593440062/" title="bob a bit of a condom hog"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2773/4422293989_eb76bf14b2_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="bob a bit of a condom hog" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4423060380/in/set-72157623593440062/" title="Bob's a happy guy"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4062/4423060380_3c4962324b_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="Bob's a happy guy" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4423061876/in/set-72157623593440062/" title="kinky bob"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2772/4423061876_fdb32e7086_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="kinky bob" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4423062342/in/set-72157623593440062/" title="MAKE IT RAIN"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4032/4423062342_2890693c8b_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="MAKE IT RAIN" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4423061198/in/set-72157623593440062/" title="Our bag of condoms"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/4423061198_77165b91d9_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="Our bag of condoms" border="0" /></a><br />
<br />
…we were off to the Dornod Health Department to coordinate with Raj and Jay, VSO volunteers from India and the Philippines respectively, on our methods of mass dissemination. Posters and materials from the Red Cross were distributed to the local secondary schools, where the health teachers were busy plastering hallways with all such resources onto which they could get their latexed hands.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4422293745/in/set-72157623593440062/" title="awesome ribbon"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2550/4422293745_2e0653d0be_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="awesome ribbon" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4422298027/in/set-72157623593440062/" title="health department"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4040/4422298027_a7717f6cc3_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="health department" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4423065368/in/set-72157623593440062/" title="VSO and PCVs and Dornod Health Depart 2"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4001/4423065368_c8852ae2fc_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="VSO and PCVs and Dornod Health Depart 2" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4422299423/in/set-72157623593440062/" title="Jay and Raj YEAH IT'S WORLD AIDs DAY"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2720/4422299423_d791e2d1b6_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="Jay and Raj YEAH IT'S WORLD AIDs DAY" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4422298947/in/set-72157623593440062/" title="me being a productive doofer"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2767/4422298947_33db5329e4_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="me being a productive doofer" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4423062782/in/set-72157623593440062/" title="World AIDS Day 2"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4057/4423062782_497d27513b_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="World AIDS Day 2" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4423063886/in/set-72157623593440062/" title="World AIDS Day 3"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2688/4423063886_28b8888d71_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="World AIDS Day 3" border="0" /></a><br />
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We then saturated both the Dornod Institute and the Dornod Technology School where we adopted “Shock and Awe” tactics of dispersal, and clearly won some hearts and minds in the process. No place was safe, from the snowy exterior<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4423065966/in/set-72157623593440062/" title="bob surprising these students at technology college"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2690/4423065966_fa645df603_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="bob surprising these students at technology college" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4422301451/in/set-72157623593440062/" title="getting them as they come out the door"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4068/4422301451_a5d8d054f8_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="getting them as they come out the door" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4423067036/in/set-72157623593440062/" title="Yeah students reading the info"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4009/4423067036_770fceeb08_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="Yeah students reading the info" border="0" /></a><br />
<br />
to the library<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4422304381/in/set-72157623593440062/" title="ah sad that's the last of my condoms"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4018/4422304381_4a8bebb1a9_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="ah sad that's the last of my condoms" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4423069332/in/set-72157623593440062/" title="bob hogging all the condoms"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4006/4423069332_c3d92e0b9d_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="bob hogging all the condoms" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4423067946/in/set-72157623593440062/" title="is that going to be enough"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2802/4423067946_6f81fa8f6b_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="is that going to be enough" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4422302089/in/set-72157623593440062/" title="starting to break the condoms up"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/4422302089_2e2e70e12d_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="starting to break the condoms up" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4423068668/in/set-72157623593440062/" title="taking stock"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4423068668_f8c4ee8324_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="taking stock" border="0" /></a><br />
<br />
to the very classrooms themselves.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4422323095/in/set-72157623593440062/" title="Amanda and Jay giving the lowdown"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4051/4422323095_f5f92c7dc8_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="Amanda and Jay giving the lowdown" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4422324857/in/set-72157623593440062/" title="bob showing the way"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/4422324857_1db6b8e412_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="bob showing the way" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4423095848/in/set-72157623593440062/" title="don't know why but i like this picture even though it's blurry"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4071/4423095848_c64aa3d2b9_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="don't know why but i like this picture even though it's blurry" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4423085270/in/set-72157623593440062/" title="it took 6 attempts to get this picture"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4002/4423085270_3c174565e3_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="it took 6 attempts to get this picture" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4423086334/in/set-72157623593440062/" title="no classroom was left untouched"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4001/4423086334_5f68fc2124_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="no classroom was left untouched" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4422327929/in/set-72157623593440062/" title="please sir can i have some more"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4051/4422327929_c117bacc15_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="please sir can i have some more" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4423095614/in/set-72157623593440062/" title="what we doing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/4423095614_2548915501_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="what we doing" border="0" /></a><br />
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There is something uproarious about-literally-running up to a group of young Mongolians, loudly saying “here you go” or “mai,” the Mongolian-language equivalent, and pushing a condom, a bookmark with AIDS information, and a hand-made red ribbon into their unexpecting palms. We established such disarming routines as approaching a particularly reticent recipient (provided that he or she was with friends) giving him or her a significant head-to-toe once-over with a knowing smile, and then bestowing not one but two or three condoms, conspiratorially murmuring “looks like you’ll be needing a few of these." I'm pretty sure that several of them understood the flattery, as farcical as it might really have been.<br />
<br />
When our condom cache was nearly exhausted, we attended an informational seminar that had been arranged by Raj, Jay, and the local chapter of the Red Cross. The college-aged recruits seemed very motivated. The thought that some of them will still be doing this sort of thing after we’re all gone is quite reassuring. Now if only I can get them to wear red ribbon capes and put on condom skullcaps...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4423089782/in/set-72157623593440062/" title="and more goods"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4016/4423089782_eb5f3ca064_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="and more goods" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4423096400/in/set-72157623593440062/" title="i think the condoms brought them in"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4025/4423096400_090f96992d_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="i think the condoms brought them in" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4422316727/in/set-72157623593440062/" title="raj givin the 411"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2770/4422316727_2b067b2fb7_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="raj givin the 411" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4422326731/in/set-72157623593440062/" title="red cross"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2679/4422326731_5c223843c3_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="red cross" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4422305183/in/set-72157623593440062/" title="the mongolian crew"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4061/4422305183_ff0e877eee_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="the mongolian crew" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4422324409/in/set-72157623593440062/" title="the red cross team"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4014/4422324409_4767c46a25_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="the red cross team" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4423083528/in/set-72157623593440062/" title="the whole gang"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2562/4423083528_500b54e4c7_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="the whole gang" border="0" /></a><br />
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So remember folks:<br />
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<i>Limit your trysts,<br />
get checked twice,<br />
listen to all that Red Cross advice;<br />
condom fairy’s coming to town.</i><br />
<b>EVEN IN MONGOLIA</b>rcfiglockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775831762689981857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303437188652120337.post-68654516929047665862010-01-31T22:57:00.000-08:002010-01-31T22:57:08.908-08:00Address in Dornod AimagRobert Figlock, Peace Corps Volunteer<br />
Shine Hogjil Secondary School<br />
Dornod Aimag, Herlen Soum<br />
Mongolia (Via China)<br />
<br />
Роберт Фиглок, Энх Тайвны Корпус<br />
Сайн Дурын Ажилтан<br />
"Шинэ Хөгжил" Цогцолбор Сургуулы<br />
Дорнод Аймаг, Хэрлэн Сум<br />
Mongolia, Via China<br />
<br />
If the web characters don't work, here's an image for easy printing!<br />
<img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4040/4321727504_a802806110_o.png">rcfiglockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775831762689981857noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303437188652120337.post-37023275859998509992010-01-04T15:35:00.001-08:002010-01-04T15:36:54.822-08:00January<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4246336342/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2804/4246336342_39bab27457_m.jpg" /></a>rcfiglockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775831762689981857noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303437188652120337.post-70745724510479416242009-12-29T01:43:00.000-08:002009-12-30T22:25:54.807-08:00Footraces, Teaching, Weddings, and RibbonsA few weeks ago, my school had a Saturday-long track and field competition. When I made the mistake of producing my camera from my pocket, it was deftly snatched (so that pictures of me with students could be taken, whether I wanted them to be or not.) Just about every event to which I bring my camera turns out this way. I suppose I am appreciative, as it means that I get to be in a few photos. It also gives me a great excuse for poor lensmanship.<br />
<br />
I was supposed to participate in a footrace, but it was scheduled on the same day as a ribbon cutting ceremony for the first private hospital in Dornod province. The two were not initially supposed to conflict, but the race was delayed by more than three hours. This gave me the unique opportunity to change from the sweats in which I had jogged to my school to the full suit I had brought along in my backpack. This was accomplished in the elementary school’s gymnasium dressing room, while three female gym teachers, inquisitive and unabashed, observed the entire procedure. For about five minutes. This was despite many clearings of the throat and significant glances from me. Oh well, the Greek prefix “gymno” does mean naked after all… Alas, I achieved only boxers. The hospital pictures are the last two in this set. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209809457/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1042 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4031/4209809457_c2a58f78d8_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1042 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209809645/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1046 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4017/4209809645_2aeedd22f6_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1046 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209809827/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1049 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2752/4209809827_00eeda0e3b_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1049 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209810005/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1053 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2487/4209810005_314f25419d_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1053 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210575718/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1054 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4049/4210575718_60b1ce083a_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1054 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210575928/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1055 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4050/4210575928_30f8cef624_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1055 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210576090/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1056 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4052/4210576090_3747e017d2_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1056 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209810921/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1059 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4022/4209810921_f48da87b32_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1059 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209811385/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1060 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2795/4209811385_638eb20c8c_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1060 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210577286/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1061 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2760/4210577286_3369386d72_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1061 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209812065/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1064 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2682/4209812065_f787c2b30b_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1064 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209812351/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1066 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2575/4209812351_db674b02e9_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1066 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209813097/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1071 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4009/4209813097_f071f4f28e_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1071 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209814083/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1073 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2499/4209814083_b5af721d5b_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1073 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210580502/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1075 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2671/4210580502_4139dec912_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1075 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209815189/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1078 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4069/4209815189_5f393bfb6d_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1078 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209815755/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1081 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2618/4209815755_4c6b391957_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1081 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209816283/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1084 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2566/4209816283_b20967f80d_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1084 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210582414/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1086 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4026/4210582414_951839a73b_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1086 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210583610/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1088 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2556/4210583610_872b761ce1_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1088 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209818057/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1089 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2528/4209818057_9e4ed29a00_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1089 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210584264/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1074 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4029/4210584264_88d63bbd85_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1074 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209818699/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1047 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2696/4209818699_9d4150d583_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1047 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><br />
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Here are a variety of classroom pictures. Some are from my regular classes, some from my English clubs, and some from my lessons for teachers of other subjects. Also included are pictures of the English resource room at School 6, which I hope to replicate at my school during my time here, some cool Mongolian script which is written in such a way that it resembles the animal that it articulates, and a few class photos. Most of the ladies in the picture of me with 6 classy dames standing around me are my English-teaching counterparts.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210541848/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN0993 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2548/4210541848_a1c97450c3_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN0993 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210549638/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN0994 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4017/4210549638_81ac2417c2_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN0994 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210549802/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1002 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2704/4210549802_83597ecda9_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1002 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210549960/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1004 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4051/4210549960_b161905113_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1004 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209785277/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1091 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2503/4209785277_9cff0e2908_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1091 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210550280/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1092 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4071/4210550280_7eafac2211_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1092 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210550558/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1093 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2485/4210550558_0acc47b286_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1093 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209785811/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1096 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2521/4209785811_17ccc32fd2_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1096 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210550848/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1097 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2661/4210550848_699080dff4_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1097 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210550994/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1098 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4013/4210550994_ee202b759b_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1098 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210551834/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1101 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2533/4210551834_494d061f32_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1101 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210552012/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1106 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2564/4210552012_63c17d4021_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1106 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210552176/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1107 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2640/4210552176_403b52a43b_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1107 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209787341/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1109 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4013/4209787341_17e6aa3836_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1109 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210552596/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1137 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4058/4210552596_87f823a7a4_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1137 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209787581/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1144 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2613/4209787581_38acbb7ff3_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1144 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210552914/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1298 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2611/4210552914_0d53a3ef26_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1298 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209787925/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1299 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4065/4209787925_fe6a86b0b1_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1299 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209788083/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1300 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4060/4209788083_4562dac7bb_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1300 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210553426/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1304 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4018/4210553426_67913327ff_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1304 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209788457/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1354 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4069/4209788457_f21cb441b2_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1354 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210553772/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1357 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2784/4210553772_522b5634a2_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1357 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210553922/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1360 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4066/4210553922_5775d8222e_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1360 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><br />
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I’ve tried to take some outdoor shots while here, but the desire to capture something significant has lead to a pretty pronounced dearth of Choibalsan photography. 0984 through 0989 are from a fishing trip that I took with my main counterpart, Jagaa’s, family just outside of town. Note the tile Mongolian flag next to the Hammer and Sickle on the side of the building next to my apartment in 0996. 1020-1026 are from our first severe dumping of snow, 1102-1141 are stray kids and stray dogs, and 1322 onwards are my newfound winter wonderland.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210433322/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1330 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4020/4210433322_c5cf94f760_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1330 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210432534/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1103 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2517/4210432534_402bdb528d_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1103 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210431748/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1102 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4048/4210431748_4d7d6df864_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1102 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209666245/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1329 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2761/4209666245_110abfdfdd_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1329 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210430280/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1328 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2769/4210430280_43e0076b90_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1328 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209664841/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1327 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2658/4209664841_bfbaa111cb_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1327 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210428594/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1326 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2552/4210428594_e8ce19d714_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1326 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209663255/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1323 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4063/4209663255_cffe22bb18_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1323 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209662509/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1322 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2706/4209662509_548a136dd5_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1322 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209661625/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1141 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2770/4209661625_9fc43c6ed8_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1141 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210425342/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1140 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/4210425342_3531c4f370_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1140 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210424458/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1020 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2674/4210424458_35d05e01f9_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1020 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210423718/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1026 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2799/4210423718_e2816ac278_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1026 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209658073/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1023 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2801/4209658073_63ff666376_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1023 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210422148/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1000 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4052/4210422148_3e40cc54c3_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1000 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209656615/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN0997 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2674/4209656615_ff55b7390c_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN0997 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210420338/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN0996 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2537/4210420338_89d1d92445_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN0996 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210419594/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN0988 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4061/4210419594_924420a048_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN0988 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210419092/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN0985 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2615/4210419092_27f7ffaef0_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN0985 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210418088/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN0984 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4034/4210418088_ac780d0923_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN0984 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209721769/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN0989 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4042/4209721769_d864685ea9_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN0989 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><br />
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I recently had the spectacular opportunity to attend a wedding. Not just any Mongolian nuptial, but a Buryat one. The Buryats are an ethnic group that is mostly concentrated in Siberia, but also has a sizable population in Eastern Mongolia, particularly in Dornod province. The event was held in a Buryat-owned and run hotel, which had several family crests and traditional Buryat dels on display. Picture 1155 features a coworker of mine next to his family’s blazonry. They are the clan of the White Hog. Note the “r”-shaped design on the male mannequin in 1159. The embroidery there is unique to each clan. As to the ceremony, the bride (who is the social worker from my school) is in forest green with gold trim. The groom, who is employed as the technology teacher at the prestigious School number 1, is in a brown del with a gray cowboy hat. They can both be seen in 1189, 1196, 1205, and 1218. My powerful, generous, and kind director can be espied hugging the bride in 1227, and my main counterpart, Jagaa, is in lime green in 1271. The woman closest to the camera in 1201 and 1270 is Byamba, with whom I also work closely. She is simply a spectacular elementary school methodologist.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209757513/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1146 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2722/4209757513_f2aa571690_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1146 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209757691/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1147 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4071/4209757691_106b0901b3_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1147 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209757911/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1151 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4066/4209757911_e69e5594f5_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1151 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209758097/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1183 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2729/4209758097_ef0a2f1503_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1183 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210522766/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1189 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2711/4210522766_711b9c4b3f_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1189 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209758389/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1195 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2754/4209758389_c2c33425a3_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1195 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209758547/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1196 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2779/4209758547_d3d254737f_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1196 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210523276/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1201 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2709/4210523276_2db388fb76_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1201 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210523446/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1202 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2698/4210523446_0b7d066fe6_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1202 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210523606/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1203 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2703/4210523606_22a4b33735_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1203 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209759217/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1205 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2666/4209759217_64340c6ba2_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1205 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210523970/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1210 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2682/4210523970_a2938b1729_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1210 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209759569/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1212 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4065/4209759569_82bc210d9e_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1212 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210524356/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1218 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4054/4210524356_1fb82af51c_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1218 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209759929/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1219 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4011/4209759929_a32cc46aa2_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1219 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209760109/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1148 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2768/4209760109_4fea7f2f23_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1148 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210524882/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1155 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2717/4210524882_af3202c5c0_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1155 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210525048/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1163 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2785/4210525048_db7589020e_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1163 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210525202/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1157 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2508/4210525202_0865cba8d3_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1157 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209760719/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1158 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4065/4209760719_ac5b2b5218_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1158 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209760929/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1159 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2789/4209760929_7f71bc8335_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1159 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209761131/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1173 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4072/4209761131_c65e8a2956_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1173 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><br />
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Fruit and vegetables were in abundant supply (quite the rarity here.) I singlehandedly ate all 20-25 mandarins on my table and the surrounding two tables, while an appreciative crowd murmuringly observed my ever-increasing peel pile. The entire rear haunch of an enormous sheep was served, and it is customary that everybody must take a bite of it in order to wish the new pair good luck in their relationship. It can be seen in 1163, 1183, and 1189. Lasagna is considered quite the foreign delicacy here in Choibalsan, and this Buryat hotel is the only place I know of that serves it. When I commented that mine (1210) looked like a bird, Jagaa retorted that hers, pictured in 1212, was then clearly a drunken bird. I convinced her to give it a thumbs-up for the camera.<br />
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Speaking of drunken, it was about this time that the vodka was decanted. And by “decanted” I am referring to a deluge. I was lucky to have Jagaa and my director sitting at my table and helping me get away with turning down a few shots because frankly, shit got pretty crazy. It was around this time that my camera, as per usual, was taken from me and passed from inebriated hand to inebriated hand. Abruptly, a rave started. Terrible Russian techno blared, and Mongolians of all ages leapt from their seats to dance. Alas, most of those pictures turned out too blurry to decipher. The remainder is posted below. All in all, it was a very good night.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210526652/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1225 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2657/4210526652_8104b58025_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1225 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209762297/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1227 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2496/4209762297_883b852bdd_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1227 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210526994/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1231 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2635/4210526994_0f49f7eddc_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1231 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209762699/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1234 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4011/4209762699_43b7148efc_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1234 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210527446/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1235 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2528/4210527446_319c340b22_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1235 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210527638/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1236 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2576/4210527638_b049d3930b_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1236 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210527814/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1239 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2554/4210527814_c7d38fc914_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1239 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209763413/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1242 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4062/4209763413_5db3fe6088_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1242 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209763589/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1251 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2560/4209763589_87c1e1b188_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1251 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210528382/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1252 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4035/4210528382_5a4bd6dc1d_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1252 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210528556/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1253 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2752/4210528556_2a1a360b0c_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1253 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209764031/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1256 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2740/4209764031_02dacf117a_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1256 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210528902/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1258 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4049/4210528902_943a15b6fc_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1258 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209764369/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1262 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2585/4209764369_cdd8932aaf_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1262 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210529300/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1266 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2597/4210529300_f0342a3a29_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1266 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210529484/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1267 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2491/4210529484_664b1aef24_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1267 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210529660/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1270 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4004/4210529660_c12f31eb75_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1270 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209765023/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1271 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2536/4209765023_ce68cc3247_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1271 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210530018/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1272 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4066/4210530018_5a03109ac4_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1272 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209765323/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1279 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2619/4209765323_e130cf2bd0_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1279 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209765493/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1280 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4064/4209765493_3ec130414c_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1280 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210530480/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1292 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2549/4210530480_7d85d0705f_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1292 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><br />
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We have been engaged in red ribbon-making for much of this week. World AIDS day, December 1st, is fast approaching. Our capable VSO health volunteers, Raj from India and Jay from the Philippines, have scheduled a bonanza of festivities, the likes of which shall not be seen again for many turnings of the Earth. There will be intensive training sessions for school health teachers, screenings of informational films, and a HIV/AIDS trivia competition among all the local secondary schools. I, for my part, am extremely excited to wear a cape and hand out red ribbons and condoms. To each his own…<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210417154/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1372 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2689/4210417154_3406614da1_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1372 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210416440/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1371 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4019/4210416440_a1dce3888d_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1371 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209651095/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1379 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2535/4209651095_cf10dd2ab4_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1379 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209650299/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1378 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2753/4209650299_2cdece871b_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1378 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209649551/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1377 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2472/4209649551_733f392475_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1377 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209648915/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1376 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4053/4209648915_e192ab79a1_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1376 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210412862/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1374 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2513/4210412862_46936e50ab_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1374 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210412116/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1373 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4020/4210412116_74caa181cf_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1373 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210411202/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1370 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2556/4210411202_c6fb197843_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1370 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><br />
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And to top it all off, a few random pictures from my apartment. Enjoy the realistically-rendered rendition on the front of my PC cook book of Paul, our PCMO. Marvel at my bedspread, which my director enthusiastically told me had been taken from a kindergartener’s bed. Swoon at Amanda posing in a cap that she pilfered from Geoff. Gasp at the awful afflictions against which I have been supplied with curatives and remedies abounding. Ooh and ah at comely cooking, Lindsay with some impressively brackish laundry water, some of the best Beer Die throwing poise and distracting poses you have yet encountered, and general revelry abounding.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210487880/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN0955 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4039/4210487880_2f2598dd66_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN0955 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210488058/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN0956 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2735/4210488058_b91dd0befc_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN0956 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209723773/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN0971 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4029/4209723773_d8e7960229_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN0971 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210488370/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN0958 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2756/4210488370_7a63a0a1ae_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN0958 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209724085/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1014 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2576/4209724085_46b67f6d96_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1014 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209724261/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1016 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2547/4209724261_429c6a99af_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1016 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210488816/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1110 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4047/4210488816_af5b293813_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1110 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a 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src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4054/4210489360_db23d304d4_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1118 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210489508/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1119 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2770/4210489508_43a545a8c3_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1119 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210489676/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1131 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/4210489676_9b057c1cbb_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1131 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209725431/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1133 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2639/4209725431_788816b257_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1133 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210489982/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1305 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4008/4210489982_3822f7c111_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1305 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210496856/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1306 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2623/4210496856_f307a37d92_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1306 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209736757/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1313 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2760/4209736757_44684f67a3_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1313 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210503642/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1319 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2538/4210503642_0d50a344b2_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1319 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210505614/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1104 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2629/4210505614_07189f7145_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1104 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209741685/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1038 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2701/4209741685_a1d9a1f4d9_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1038 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210509064/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1382 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/4210509064_444a59cd26_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1382 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4210509848/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1383 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2731/4210509848_a922892627_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1383 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4209745527/in/set-72157622935901625/" title="DSCN1384 by Bob's Mongologue"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2663/4209745527_5a2ce3b598_s.jpg" width="75" height="75" alt="DSCN1384 by Bob's Mongologue" border="0" /></a>rcfiglockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775831762689981857noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303437188652120337.post-81067628625752839962009-11-19T13:04:00.000-08:002009-11-20T01:45:28.830-08:00Letters from Bob, Vol. 7 (excerpts)<blockquote>It snowed sideways today. Hard. Seriously the worst snowstorm I've been in (the worst I'd seen before was 15 below in Virginia) and it's SEPTEMBER. And yet, all was made well by the fact that, as per usual, and without a bit of the bumbling awkwardness that I always encounter the first day of a cold season when I find myself yet again the marshmallow man, I was cheered and chased off the school premises at sunset by a crowd of Mongolian children, all crying nearly unintelligible "good bye"s, "see you tomorrow"s, and for some reason "hello my name is"s. There is never a shortage of feel-good positive reinforcement when in Peace Corps. The key is dealing with your eyelashes freezing together halfway home, glued shut by the tears that the biting wind is drawing from your inadvertent eyes.<br />
<b>Tue, Sep 22, 2009 at 9:45 AM<br />
</b></blockquote>rcfiglockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775831762689981857noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303437188652120337.post-75121821546582714672009-11-18T12:58:00.000-08:002009-11-19T13:02:40.205-08:0015 minutes for us = a lifetime of fame in Mongolia<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39970151@N03/4117591895/" title="10323_796137042853_3214158_45297375_8344592_n by Bob's Mongologue, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2788/4117591895_ffce275af6.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="10323_796137042853_3214158_45297375_8344592_n" /></a><br />
<br />
I am famous in Mongolia. This is at a huge tourist attraction.<br />
I was at the giant Chinggis wearing a sams that my family had given me that day. The official photographer for the monument approached me and asked if he could take my picture for a brochure. I surmise that the language barrier resulted in this. I almost had a heart attack when Jagaa's husband showed it to me. Seriously, thousands and thousands of people will see it; he says it's right in the main entryway. Brightening Mongolians' lives one day at a time I suppose.<br />
<i>Mon, Sep 21, 2009 at 9:16 AM</i>rcfiglockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775831762689981857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303437188652120337.post-17280500714589512702009-11-10T18:01:00.000-08:002009-11-10T18:10:08.666-08:00A Bit of Self-Discovery<i>In the following e-mail, I explore my own reasons for volunteering. Its idealism can easily be juxtaposed to the pragmatism in the above message. Please note: the term "hero's journey" doesn't imply some sort of weird, megalomaniacal self-image. It's the literary shorthand for a character's self-actualization or inner realizations. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero%27s_journey" \t "_blank"> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero%27s_journey</a>. Mrs. Eagle, to whom I refer, was the amazing high school English teacher that taught us critical and literary analysis in a way that would have been mind-blowing even at the university level. This e-mail was written to Damien, and has quotes from an earlier e-mail to Jenn. <b> Please listen to the embedded song as you continue.</b> After finishing with “Into the West,” which I mention, I had it playing on repeat as I wrote most of this:</i><br />
<br />
<div><div style="text-align: left; color: #595653; font-size: 11px; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 5px;">Discover Simple, Private Sharing at <a href="http://drop.io">Drop.io</a> </div><object width="400" height="100"> <param name="movie" value="http://s3.amazonaws.com/stlth/static/production/swf/audio_controller.swf"></param><param name="wmode" value="opaque"></param><param name="flashvars" value="song_label=converted-01 Dayvan Cowboy_converted.mp3&amp;music_track=http://drop.io/download/public/sugwve2wuftckqwrmp8l/3e540b1333bb11acf4b01ec7e19032c92bcf41ee/fff8acb0-9b5b-012c-a295-f7c29dd05676/167d5690-b093-012c-6f2b-fdc690413da9/v2/content&amp;autoplay=false"></param><embed src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/stlth/static/production/swf/audio_controller.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="opaque" width="400" height="100" flashvars="song_label=converted-01 Dayvan Cowboy_converted.mp3&amp;music_track=http://drop.io/download/public/sugwve2wuftckqwrmp8l/3e540b1333bb11acf4b01ec7e19032c92bcf41ee/fff8acb0-9b5b-012c-a295-f7c29dd05676/167d5690-b093-012c-6f2b-fdc690413da9/v2/content&amp;autoplay=false"> </embed></object></div><br />
<b>TO DAMIEN:</b><br />
You have quite a knack for writing, you know. You make my Quixotic quest out here sound like a pitched battle against the twin evils of hardship and complacence. Should my life ever be worthy of novelization, I think you should be the writer of the narrative. Not three minutes hence, I at last finished The Silmarillion. It took being in Mongolia to get me through the whole "A son of B, slayer of C, betrothed to D" aspect. After the first third, it really picked up some momentum, and as with any good book, I had a tear in my eye not only for the beauty of the final prose, but because I feel like I'm leaving a friend who can craft fine fantasies by the side of the road as I ramble on. I'm still riding the euphoria of the epilogue, as I term it. I'm listening to <i>"Into the West"</i> from the Return of the King soundtrack. <br />
<br />
I can confess to you that most of this seeking for self-actualization that I do out here really is a Joseph Campbellian search for a hero's journey. I've come to some realizations about the nature of such in this regard. I'm going to start typing and copying and pasting, and see where it leads me... <br />
<br />
I've had a lot of time to think about this topic in Mongolia. All through high school and college, there was always a sense of preparing to set out and become the person that I wanted to be. That luxury is now behind me, and the realization that it's as much now the time to start self-actualizing as ever can be utterly paralyzing. The only way that I've been able to get out of bed in the morning is to take things one day at a time. Life in Choibalsan is tough, there's no doubt about it. Yet I firmly believe that I am becoming a stronger person with every day that I stay here.<br />
<br />
The thought of turning back, as so many of my peers have done, seems inconceivable. I'm pretty sure that there is no coming back. I think at least once a day about how nice the luxuries, comforts, and particularly companionship of home would be. But if the opportunity or even the necessity arose, they would have to drag me onto that evacuation helicopter kicking and screaming. I'd apply the next day for something to keep myself on the hard road.<br />
<br />
I've realized that when I complete my two years of service, I will have finished A hero's journey. Not THE hero's journey. That's what I've had to come to terms with. Life is not a book with some happy ending where time stops before things change and people die. But it is (if you choose to put yourself in the right places) a series of endeavors that make you stronger after each trial and tribulation. Every time you finish, you're ready to undertake something much more harrowing. The fact is, you can't go straight from the Shire to Mordor. But if you make it through the Barrow-downs, Tom Bombadill's wood, Bree, Moria, etc., you're ready for it by the time that you make it to the Dark Gate. I've spent way too much of my life thinking that I will have accomplished something amazing by the time I'm 25. That happens in mathematics and sports. Not in my field. Instead, I'm trying to keep myself as healthy as the food and climate here allow, and to develop my capacities.<br />
<br />
What I'm focusing on here is getting REALLY GOOD at what I need to be doing. I'm trying to excel this job's pants off. I pour myself into lesson planning, and make myself available for socialization with host country nationals for a portion of the day that some would consider to be unhealthy. I do this because I want to beat the curve, and suck as much out of this amazing adventure as I can. When I've got a few months left here, and am deciding between going straight to the Foreign Service or graduate school with aims towards USAID or professorship, I want to have really lived Peace Corps Mongolia. I probably spend an hour a day doing precisely the opposite of that. I find myself taking refuge in my apartment and trying to live as close a facsimile of American life as is possible. I am okay with doing so, but only to the degree that is necessary for me to keep my sanity, and maintain my ability to spend the rest of each day working on developing not just the capacities of my students and counterparts, but myself as well. Otherwise, the paralysis extends beyond the 15 minutes after I wake up. <br />
<br />
Today, like most days, I walked home literally into the sunset, with a swarm of laughing children surrounding me and walking me to my front door. We call them the "hello monsters," because they enjoy nothing more than to say "hello" at you every thirty seconds. Occasionally they range up into "goodbye" and "my name is..." territory, but seldom far beyond that. In any case, I was exhausted from working for 9 hours and yet, had a ridiculous grin on my face. I realized that it's after I've spent the day helping people-to the best of my ability and no further-that I'm happiest. It's when I feel overwhelmed, particularly when I wake up in Mongolia each day, that I'm the most disconsolate. I'm pretty sure that if I were the center negotiator on climate change talks or nuclear disarmament accords as the person I am now, I'd be pretty miserable for lack of ability. <br />
<br />
As much as she's one of the best influences I've ever had, Mrs. Eagle broke us, somehow. She taught me to see every book I read, every action movie I see as male mental masturbation to the idea of a call to adventure and the ability to fulfill it. And yet, I love it. I bury myself in it. A quote from Snow Crash, one of my new favorite books:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>"Until a man is twenty-five, he still thinks, every so often, that under the right circumstances he could be the baddest motherfucker in the world. 'If I moved to a martial-arts monastery in China and studied real hard for ten years. If my family was wiped out by Colombian drug dealers and I swore myself to revenge. If I got a fatal disease, had one year to live, and devoted it to wiping out street crime. If I just dropped out and devoted my life to being a badass.'"</blockquote><br />
So true. Maybe the thirteen-year-old in me never grew up. Or maybe a lot of people have this neurosis, I'm not sure. In any case, I've spent a hell of a lot of my life waiting for a call to adventure. But I've had to come to terms with the fact that my family, friends, or loved ones are not going to be murdered by some spectacularly mustachioed villain. Some wizardly old role model is not going to appear and reinvent me in some convenient and catchily-scored montage. We see self-actualization as this 2 minute series of clips of somebody trying to lift a weight and being unable, only 5 cuts later to be pulling a truck through the snow with nothing but their pecs, a big metal chain, and some tremendous testicular fortitude. <br />
<br />
You don't get conveniently reinvented. You reinvent yourself, and to do that you need to get out of your box. In my case, the necessity was to put myself in a situation of relative hardship, where I could not only come to better appreciate the ridiculous comforts that my American lifestyle affords me, but also to be somehow reforged into someone a little stronger. <br />
<br />
I've also given up on having a bird fly up to my window with some entreaty for aid strapped to its leg. I've had to find my clarion call. Aid and Development is the closest thing to a moral crusade that I'm going to get. And it's not a bad one. Hell, it's the biggest one. I'm unhappy with the lot of the Developing World in that they were dealt unfairly hard hands in life, and I'm unhappy with our lot in that we don't have any easy way to fulfill our desire to improve life. All the hard work has been done for us where our own well-being is concerned.<br />
<br />
A major mistake-one that I've been desperately trying to avoid-is getting out here and somehow seeing myself as the "chosen one." I've learned that in nothing is predestined, particularly greatness. You may be smart and you may have lofty goals, but it takes DECADES of self-investment to turn yourself into a "hero" who saves lives, stops wars, or builds a better world. I'm pretty sure that within the somewhat narrower scope of reality, that's what I want to accomplish. Here's my last paragraph of the aspiration statement I had to send in when I got my invitation: <br />
<br />
<blockquote>I hoped to be invited to Mongolia starting the moment I was nominated to Asia. It was my opinion that in Mongolia I could help people who were in the most need among the Asian countries in which Peace Corps operates. As far as my personal goals are concerned, I hope that the relatively Spartan nature of Mongolian living will enable me to appreciate the blessings in my life all the more for the severity of their absence. I have loved Asia throughout my life, and I anticipate that the beautiful terrain and rich culture will further heighten my admiration for the starker places in the world and those that inhabit them. I also wish to prove to myself that I will succeed in a lifelong career of international service and ideally, humanitarian aid. I believe that only by having been in the trenches (i.e. the classrooms) of the twin causes of global development and integration could I ever wield the proper wisdom or authority to direct such crucial and yet intractable endeavors.</blockquote><br />
<b>Here's a paragraph from another e-mail I wrote: <br />
</b><br />
What I need to work on is enjoying the ride there. I've lived my whole life imagining this perfect self that I want to be, ready to set out on page one. I'm learning that I'll be halfway through the book before I feel I'm ready for much of anything. I think in the interim I need to keep my mind set on ambitious yet barely-achievable goals, and end each year as different from and as better than the person as whom I began it. Keep riding the edge of the envelope, and learn to be happy there. At some point, even if you succeed, it's world peace, but for how long? Forever? See progress in how far you've come, not how much you've whittled down the way to go. There's always going to be farther to go, until the world ends. And if we ride hard enough, that's not the sort of thing that we hope will come about for absolution, for the comfort or release of being finished. That's going to be precisely the sort of thing we're trying to prevent, raging to make the world as good as we can for as long as we can, and becoming more capable of doing so with each passing day. Right?<br />
<br />
Well, there are my thoughts, and pretty much where I am in life. Thanks for being an understanding brain connected to an empathetic ear. I guess it was as much for me to figure out as for you to read; it was extremely cathartic. I'm exhausted; I stayed up way too late writing this, so I'm sure that my paragraph order is all wrong and there are logical fallacies and typos abounding. I'm gonna head to bed and get ready for the wonderful experience of teaching 4th graders tomorrow morning. The plus side: every day, I get to eat lunch in a Mongolian public elementary school's cafeteria. Seldom can one experience grin-inducing cultural dislocation quite like that.rcfiglockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775831762689981857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303437188652120337.post-73375900753071244692009-11-10T17:50:00.000-08:002009-11-10T18:08:24.926-08:00Swine Flu & Life as a Peace Corps Volunteer<i>Hi. It’s been a while. By “a while” I mean ages, and for that I apologize. Somehow, it seems that the longer I waited to get this update uploaded, the harder it was to get anything down on paper. Pixels. Pretend paper. There is no dearth of content to be sent, nor absence of anecdotes to be accounted, but one day’s delay lead to another, and before I knew it, weeks had wasted away. This is not to say that I haven’t been writing, just that I’ve been unable to make anything bloggable. Hence my asking the ever-facilitating webmaster Madelin to post the snippets that you find arrayed above and below. In an attempt to make up for lost time and posts, I’m going to copy and paste parts of a few e-mails that I’ve written to some friends while here. I extend the greatest of thanks to Damien, Jenn, Ben, Madelin, Amanda, and all the others who served as interlocutors and muses. I apologize to the very few of you who have already seen a lot of this material. Another post will be coming in the next few days with pictures abounding.</i><br />
<br />
We are presently at the beginning of Week Three of at least four weeks of school closures, thanks to the H1N1 virus’s virulence in Mongolia. Inter-aimag public transport has been canceled in some contrived containment scheme, yet our hopes of returning to work are nonetheless dashed each Thursday when the announcement comes from the Ministries of Education and Health that school will be closed nationally for yet another week. The government is having public school lessons taught on television, a spectacle that I have yet to witness, but I admire their initiative. I am fortunate in that my school is continuing to have teachers come in day after day, sometimes to shovel snow, sometimes to write and rewrite curricula, and sometimes it seems, simply to socialize. Many less fortunate volunteers have been sent to their gers to “rest,” a valued pastime in Mongolia, and perhaps justly so given that they appear to work several times harder than we Westerners do at most things. These poor Peace Corps people are steadily chewing through every magazine and book in their gers, and every movie on their hard drives. It seems that the resources of intellectual entertainment have become scarce. I’m sure that some are slowly yet steadily spiraling into insanity. At the very least, I have working in the computer lab to keep me busy.<br />
<br />
The students are using fairly modern Dell workstations that were donated by an initiative called DynEd two years ago. DynEd had this idea where they would buy a bunch of Dell computers and donate labs of them to schools in developing countries. They would then provide six months or a year of really good computer-based English learning with headphones and microphones and interactive phonics lessons and what-have-you for free! Unfortunately, the funding ran out, the Education Ministries in these countries couldn't afford to pay first-world tech support and subscription prices, and the whole thing got shut down. It would have been more expensive for DynEd to recollect the computer labs, so here they stayed. I don't think DynEd was nefarious or seeking to take advantage of places like Mongolia, they just get a C- for follow-through on an otherwise A- plan (A- because they didn’t install self-destruct mechanisms that would activate whenever a Mongolian teenager inserted his greasy grimy flash drive into one of the terminals.) In any case, now they're all pretty much Yahoo Messenger labs, where students message one another even as they're sitting next to each other. <br />
<br />
I'm doing my best to salvage this resource, painstakingly spending 2 or 3 hours a day (or basically all my free time at school when I should be lesson planning) clearing off years of accumulated viruses and junk. I have most of the terminals working beautifully, (i.e. my OCD level of computer fine-tuning,) and have made it so that each of the English teachers has a personalized account on one of them. I now often come into the lab (also my work/prep room) to find all five English teachers at their stations, merrily Powerpointing away and printing resources with the printer that I brilliantly procured for them. By that I mean that I casually asked the school Director, who is both resourceful and very eager to keep me happy, and she had a brand new in-box HP printer on my desk the very next morning.<br />
<br />
On occasions like these, I realize what a good resource I am, not due to any special training or teaching ability, but just because I'm a native English speaker with an amazing support network. One of my great coups thus far has been to write a short e-mail to an awesome charity called Darian Book Aid, which donates 30 pounds of books to any Peace Corps Volunteer who asks for them. My books should be arriving in time for IST, which is the big Christmas-ish seminar that we attend with our counterparts. Speaking of which, it is at that time that we have a sort of networking fair at which we meet various NGO's, charities, and what have you so that we can begin with our secondary projects. We also receive grant-writing lessons then. <br />
<br />
I'm coming to terms with the fact that we really are facilitators, not muscle. If you joined Peace Corps to dig ditches or feed children, chances are excellent that there's a native who can do it better than you. But if you want to spend some time IN those ditches (the trenches of “the great common cause of world development”?) or seeing how the children are fed and working out a better method, you can utilize Peace Corps' trusted brand name and amazing array of contacts to get some pretty well-directed aid sent in. Corporations and governments and organizations want to be charitable, and they give money away to do so. It's really up to us on the ground to direct it.<br />
<br />
That's what volunteering in Peace Corps really is. You schmooze, you spend months figuring out what the locals need, and you end up helping them out with the skills that are your best. Beyond that, you're just the eyes and ears of the Development institution, and a young 20-something in search of some greater significance.<br />
<br />
It's important to remember that Peace Corps volunteers are not out there to save the world. Well, that may be why we volunteered, but it’s not what we’re accomplishing. We’re working to help people as best we can, build person-to-person bridges and find ourselves! This last point is actually pretty important. We're all on a journey of self-actualization out here. We're out of our boxes, and after 3 or 4 months, we figure out how to meet our basic needs enough that we can get down to some pretty serious self-actualization. That’s the idea anyway.rcfiglockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775831762689981857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303437188652120337.post-39418759234127720882009-11-09T19:40:00.000-08:002009-11-09T19:41:34.509-08:00Letters from Bob, Vol. 6 (excerpts)<p align="center"><img src="http://charliegower.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/khan.jpg" height="334" width="250"></p><blockquote>Yes, probably 90% of the alcohol here is shitty vodka, but in my little local aimag we get some pretty good Korean beer imports. They're all light, lagerish asahi and kirin knockoffs, but beer is beer, and they're certainly drinkable. There are also two really good Mongolian beers that are extremely difficult to find, called Har Horum and Altan Gobi. Last night I had all of the people in the province over to my apartment and I taught them "touch the cup." It was ridiculous. <br />
<br />
On the plus side, it is evident that where beer is concerned, I have not lost most of my tolerance. The Mongolians, nonetheless, are able to get me shitty drunk on shitty vodka. Oh well, part of the grand cultural exchange, I guess.<br />
<b>Fri, Sep 18, 2009 at 10:40 PM</b></blockquote>rcfiglockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775831762689981857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8303437188652120337.post-78253971773729232992009-11-08T15:33:00.000-08:002009-11-08T15:40:37.800-08:00Letters from Bob, Vol. 5 (excerpts)<blockquote>Speaking of which, I managed to install Mario Teaches Typing on 35 virus-ridden mongolian public school computers today. I had to format my flash drive about every 3 computers, due to it becoming inoperative from viruses...
<br /><br />
I had a terrible dream that all of my favorite bands had broken up or otherwise stopped touring by the time I got back. [<span style="font-style:italic;">shudders</span>]
<br /><br />
Oh, I long for burrito shits. They would signify that I had just eaten a burrito. I am edging closer and closer to buying a meat grinder every day. I have an amazing recipe for tortillas in my Peace Corps Mongolia cookbook (by which I live) and would then only be missing cheese. That is usually obtainable in UB, which would mean burritos 2-3 times a year! Oh, I get excited about ideas like this.<br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;">Thu, Sep 17, 2009 at 5:52 AM</span></blockquote>rcfiglockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08775831762689981857noreply@blogger.com0